# Several Questions About Being Bonded **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609 "2004-07-17T18:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/1 "2004-07-17T18:53:40Z")
I’ve done a little petsitting in the past and now, due to the need for money, I’m going to try to get more business. I would think that being bonded would help assure my clients that I’m on the up and up. Would this really help? Where do I go to do this and about how much does it cost these days? Perhaps having insurance or a business license would be a better way to start? I’m pretty sure the license would be the cheapest option. In our city, at least. What are your opinions? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/2 "2004-07-17T20:57:14Z")
Is this the same as Professional Indemnity Insurance? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/3 "2004-07-17T21:25:23Z")
You go to an insurance company to get bonded. I had a dishonesty bond at a previous job because I wrote checks. Basically it is insuring you against being a dishonest person and stealing stuff. You might also want insurance against you doing something other than stealing to cause damage or loss. An insurance company could help you out with all this. The dishonesty bond I had cost $170 per year to cover two people, but I’m sure that varies wildly all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/4 "2004-07-17T22:51:21Z")
Bonded? With pets involved? Well, first, you definitely need to establish a “safety” word right away, and then . . . Oh, wait a minute! You said bond **ed**. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Marjorie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@Marjorie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marjorie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/5 "2004-07-18T19:51:37Z")
If you are interested in more info on insurance, the woman who does the webpage for the local [animal control website](http://www.athenspets.net) has a [petsitting service](http://128.192.214.240/~ally/petsitting/index.htm) with a link to information about her [insurance](http://www.petsitllc.com). From checking in on the animal control website frequently, I know she has had the petsitting service here for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-being-bonded/255609/6 "2004-07-18T23:16:10Z")
Thanks everyone. I;ll check out those links, Marjorie. Tomndebb, would a pet know a safety word if it heard it? 😃